Robert Forrester
| Town/City | Canberra |
|---|---|
| First name | Robert |
| Last name | Forrester |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | c1758 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1788 |
| Submitted by | Stuart Hamilton |
Story
Robert Forrester was tried at Justice Hall at the Old Bailey in London at the sessions which commenced on Wednesday 30 April 1783 before Mr. Justice Nares and the Second Middlesex Jury. Robert Forrester and Richard McDale were indicted for feloniously stealing on 29 April 1783, six pieces of gold coin of the realm called guineas to the value of Six Pounds and Six shillings English Currency being the property of Simon Hughes. The offence was alleged to have taken place at the dwelling house of Letitia Coleman a widow. Both Forrester and McDale were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged.
Sentenced to death at Middlesex on 30/04/1783 for stealing gold coins to the value of Six Pounds and Six shillings. No occupation recorded. On 10/09/83 the sentence was reprieved to 7 yrs transportation to America. Was on prison hulk ‘Censor’ at Woolwich from 4/10/83 to 24/02/87 when sent for embarkation to Portsmouth (3 days later) at the age of 28.
Arrived in Australia on 26.1.1788 first fleet ship ‘Scarborough’.
Illiterate his signature was a simple mark.
Robert Forrester remained at Cornwallis until at least 1820. He died on the 14February1827 aged 69 years and is buried at St. Matthew’s, Windsor. The inscription on his tombstone reads;
“Sleep on dear father in this grave
Let not our sigh awake you
We only wait until our turn
Then we shall overtake you”
Kept out of recorded trouble until 29 December 1790 when charged with drunken insolence to Corporal Charles Brixley. Ordered to work in a gang.
Initially married to Mary Frost 19 October 1791 and sent to Norfolk island. Arrived on the ship Atlantic on 26 October 1791. Received a grant of 10 acres on the Mt Pitt path. He returned from Norfolk island without her on the “Kitty” 9 March 1793. Forrester Court on Norfolk Island is named after him. He has decendents on Norfolk Island (John Forrester) who migrated there at a later date – he is a decendent of Forrester through his son. Mary Frost then took Joshua Peck as a partner and had children by him.
From 1793 living with Isabella Ramsay
In Oct 1794 settled on 30 acres at Mulgrave Place. (Near Windsor.) Examined on 17 October 1794 for shooting an Aboriginal boy at a time of continual attacks by the local Durak tribe.
By mid 1800 had 19 acres with wheat and six with maize, 11 hogs. Recorded as having five children by this stage.
In 1801 he had a mortgage of 34 pounds on the farm to secure debts to Simeon Lord and Thomas Rickerby.
In 1802 had 26 acres sown with wheat, barley and maize. 15 hogs, 20 bushels of maize and 3 of wheat on hand.
Grant of an additional 70 acres in July 1804.
In 1806 increase holding by another 30 acres (130 in total) with 24 in grain, half an acre as an orchard and garden and the rest fallow and pasture for stock of 30 sheep, 50 goats and 10 hogs. 20 bushels of grain in hand. Employing 3 convicts and a freeman.
In the 1806 floods Isabella Manning was rescued from the house with only her head above water with the child she had given birth to 3 days before – probably her daughter Isabella.
From 1814 Forrester was living with Jane Wilson (Surprize 1794). Appears to have sold his original grant and purchased 30 acres on the banks of the Hawkesbury which he mortgaged for 36 pounds in 1819. In 1822 he was farming 30 acres all sown in wheat, maize and vegetables and had 30 hogs.